The prevalence of latent Equid herpesviruses in the tissues of 40 abattoir horses

• Published in: Equine veterinary journal Vol. 26; no. 2; p. 140
• Main Authors: Edington, N, Welch, H M, Griffiths, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-03-1994
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - analysis; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; DNA, Viral - analysis; DNA, Viral - genetics; Female; Herpesviridae Infections - epidemiology; Herpesviridae Infections - veterinary; Herpesviridae Infections - virology; Herpesvirus 1, Equid - genetics; Herpesvirus 1, Equid - immunology; Herpesvirus 1, Equid - isolation & purification; Herpesvirus 1, Equid - physiology; Horse Diseases - epidemiology; Horse Diseases - virology; Horses; Lymph Nodes - virology; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Virus Latency
• ISSN: 0425-1644
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04353.x

Equid herpesviruses 1 or 4 (EHV-1 or -4) were isolated by cocultivation from 60% of 40 horses examined at slaughter. The lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract were the most common source of virus. EHV-1 or EHV-4 was never isolated from the trigeminal ganglia (SLG). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected virus in 87.5% of bronchial lymph nodes and a similar level in the trigeminal ganglia that were examined. By both assays approximately one third of the positive animals harboured both viruses. Equid herpesvirus 2 (EHV-2) was isolated from all but one of the horses and from > 75% of the lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract; alpha viruses were isolated only in the presence of EHV-2. The results indicate that latent EHV-1 and EHV-4 are widespread in the equine population and that the primary site of latency is the lymph nodes of the respiratory tract.